2021 Illinois Association for Advancement Archaeology Permanent Fund Grants 

The IAAA Permanent Fund has been awarding annual research assistance grants since 2004. These grants are open to avocational, professional, student, and educational groups for projects conducted within the state of Illinois. In 2021, the IAAA Permanent Fund will award up to four $400 grants. The deadline for grant applications is Monday, January 17, 2021. The application form as well as guidelines and requirements for a grant are available on the IAAA website under the Permanent Fund link (www.museum.state.il.us/iaaa).  The IAAA Permanent Fund welcomes any donations to help support this grant effort. 

Send any questions on the grants to IAAA Permanent Fund Chair, Doug Jackson (dkjackso@illinois.edu).

Helaine Silverman of the University of Illinois interviewed Mark Wagner from the Center for Archaeological Investigations earlier this year regarding their exciting archaeological field school work at Fort Kaskaskia. Much appreciation goes to Helaine Silverman for sharing this interview with our IAS members. To see the interview, please click on the link below:

https://mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/t/1_y4apfr4z

The Anthropology PhD program at the University of Notre Dame is now accepting applications for the 2020-21 cycle. The department seeks to involve graduate students in integrative anthropology, including engagement with diverse anthropological and interdisciplinary perspectives, integration of theory and application, and integration of teaching, research, and ethics.

Full funding is offered including tuition, stipend, health insurance, as well as Summer travel and research funds for all students. The application deadline is December 1, 2020. GRE test scores are NOT required as part of the application process.

The Anthropology Department has a commitment to encourage and facilitate the education of students of color and students from underrepresented groups who can continue to add robust and important perspectives to the discipline. They are interested in students who want to make a difference.

Please see the included brochure: Brochure ND Anthropology

and short video: Video ND Anthropology Facilities

Please share with your students and colleagues who are interested in pursuing the PhD in Anthropology. Applicants may contact me, Chris Ball cball2@nd.edu, ND Anthropology's Director of Graduate Studies, for more information.

 Bob worked for ISAS until his retirement in 2017. He was an amazing archaeologist. who shared his passion for archaeology with everyone he came in contact with. An unforgettable colleague who made valuable contributions to Illinois Archaeology. He will be missed by many friends and colleagues.

Here is a link to his obituary and visitation at the Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville on Friday, October 2. https://www.crawfordfunerals.com/obituary/RobertBob-Monroe

Earlier this year, the University of Illinois established a NAGPRA Office and hired Krystiana Krupa as the NAGPRA Officer in order to show their commitment to NAGPRA and concerns of Tribal Nations. Effective September 15, 2020, the University implemented a moratorium on research, teaching, display, imaging, and circulation of human remains and cultural items that are potentially subject to NAGPRA at the University. For more information: https://nagpra.illinois.edu/

 From Chris Carr-

It is a pleasure to announce the online posting of a set of videos that present research on the topics of personhood and soul-like essences as conceived by pre- and post-contact Indians of the Eastern Woodlands and as used ritually and strategically by them in their lives.

The videos include nine researchers’ and two discussants’ presentations written for a symposium for the 85th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, Austin, Texas, April 23, 2020. When the meetings were canceled, we constructed the videos as an alternative means of sharing our ideas with the profession.

The videos have applicability to subjects beyond Eastern Woodland Indians archaeology and ethnography. They will be of interest to those who study the archaeology and ethnography of New World indigenous peoples, the archaeology of religion, mortuary archaeology, bioarchaeology, identity, folklore, performance, comparative religion, and the “ontological turn” movement in archaeology. For more information and links to the videos, please go to:

https://www.midwestarchaeology.org/news#Videos

Feel free to show all or any of the videos for teaching purposes in your college and/or professional classes.

Please pass on this email to colleagues of yours who might have an interest in it for their research or teaching. Thank you.

Wishing you the best,

Chris Carr

Christopher Carr

Professor Emeritus of Anthropology

School of Human Evolution and Social Change

Arizona State University

A pioneer of Michigan archaeology and mentor to generations of women and men in a career spanning over 50 years. Please read her obituary through the link below:

https://www.midwestarchaeology.org/files/BetsyGarlandObituary.pdf

 Dr Mark Schurr and Dr. Madeleine McLeester, will talk about their recent research at the late prehistoric Middle Grant Creek site at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. Terry Martin will also discuss the variety of fauna that has been recovered from the site.  Registration is not required. LINK to participate in webinar sessions: https://usfs.adobeconnect.com/r9-midewin- 1000/. 

16 July Middle Grant Creek Site Webinar for Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.pdf

Cahokia Mounds is taking applications for six seasonal positions until 5-1-2020.  These will be three maintenance/janitorial staff and three interpretive staff.  Employment will begin as soon our site re-opens and continue into November.  These are full-time positions.  The interpretive schedules will be 8:30 am – 5:00 pm Wednesday - Sunday.  The maintenance positions will be Mon – Friday 7:00 am - 3:00 pm, with one shift of Wed – Sunday 7:00 am – 3:00 pm.  Pay is 9.25 per hour now and will increase with the next State increase occurring by July 1 to $10 per hour.    To apply, complete the application and background check and return it via snailmail to CMSHS, 30 Ramey St., Collinsville, Il 62234, or scan and email back to Lori Belknap at this email address with a copy of a valid driver’s license.  Please call Lori at the below numbers with any questions. The link to the State portal with the forms you need is: https://tinyurl.com/yam3gy72

You can also find it at work4illinois.gov and searching Madison and St. Clair county openings.  

Lori Belknap

Site Superintendent

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site

P (618) 346-5164/5161

F (618) 346-5162